70 front signal light lenses

I see that 70 Novas are supposed to have clear front signal light lenses,
mine has amber ones, but the car is a Sept. 69 built car so did they start
using clear at a later date?

No, they did not start using amber lenses until '71. Most likely the front bumper on you car was replaced at some time, and it got a bumper from a newer car, or somebody liked the amber lenses better, so they switched them. I put clear lenses on my first 72, because I liked the way they looked better than the look of the amber lenses. Over the course of 35+ years, many things have happened to our cars!!

Randy (are they big or little lenses??):confused: :D

1970 Nova's do use clear turn lamp lenses. I dont think 1969 Nova's have clear lenses. I have the original bumper from mine and the lenses are Amber. I have not to this day seen a 1969 Nova with correct bumper have clear lenses. I could be wrong but never seen a 1968 or 1969 Nova with clear lenses.

My original 69 has the amber lenses. I understand 68 and 69 lenses are all the same as per a previous discussion. They are all date marked 68.

Bobcatman, to answer your question directly, the size of the lens changed in 1970 (bigger) so there wasn't any carry over from the prior year. 1970 was a new size lens and they should all be clear for that year. In 1971 they changed to amber and stayed that color through the end of the Rwd production (mid-year 1979).
Maneyac71, I think Randy said the same thing you did only in a must nicer way.
1962 was the only other year that used a clear lens during the Rwd Chevy II/Nova production years. I know most of this was already stated in this thread but I repeated it because I didn't need to consult any books. I was there each of those years and eagerly anticipated the unveiling of each new model year. Also, I do believe I have owned at least one of each of the 18 years produced. That's what I know tonight, tomorrow it could all fade away along with all the other facts I can no longer recall.

I once saw an amber pair of lenses on eBay that were listed as 1970. I thought I would be a nice guy and emailed the seller to let them know that 1970 lenses were clear, and the lenses they were selling were 1971 or 1972.

The seller emailed me back with " For your information Buddy Boy, cars back then could be ordered with either color ."

That's the last time I'll try to help someone on eBay.

68-69 bumpers had smaller rectangular amber lenses.

70 bumpers had square clear lenses and amber bulbs.

71-72 bumpers had square amber lenses and clear bulbs.

Our 70 has clear lenses and our 72 has amber lenses.

last year I tried to find clear lenses for my 68.after contacting several major parts manufacturer's iwas told by all of them the only years with clear lenses are 62 & 70 all others are amber .I use a 70 bumper on my 68 because of the clear lenses ,if anyone knows where to get clear lenses for 68 plz let me know !!!!!!thank u. bobcatman an easy fix buy clear lenses will fit 70,71 or 72 front bumper

My 71 had clear lenses. why? 30 years of sitting in the sun took all the color out of them. :)

1970 should have clear not amber.

Now I'm going to have to go see what color bulbs I have in my lights, I believe their 'clear' bulbs with 'clear' lens. Stupid question here, but what's the purpose of having a clear lens with an amber bulb? In other words, I wonder why the switch to a clear lens, yet an AMBER bulb. Now I'm going to lose sleep over this one.

I see that 70 Novas are supposed to have clear front signal light lenses,
mine has amber ones, but the car is a Sept. 69 built car so did they start
using clear at a later date?

Thanks for all of your replies, after further checking my amber lenses,
I see they have a 70 date on them so that adds to the confusion.



70 L-78

They have the date code of 70 because they used the same mold. Just changed the color of the plastic for 71 and 72.

Don't know why they chose a clear lens but the signal itself would need to be amber in color due to traffic laws stating the turn signals needed to be amber in color hence the amber bulbs.

Allen nailed it, the bulbs were amber behind those clear lenses! I changed my '71 Nova to clear lenses, just like it better :D

What about the rear tail light lenses, small square for '70 vs. the big square (not Allen :D ) '71+ application? When did the change over occur, is it possible to get a late '70 with the big squares, or an early '71 with the little squares?
M

Allen nailed it, the bulbs were amber behind those clear lenses! I changed my '71 Nova to clear lenses, just like it better :D

What about the rear tail light lenses, small square for '70 vs. the big square (not Allen :D ) '71+ application? When did the change over occur, is it possible to get a late '70 with the big squares, or an early '71 with the little squares?
M
70 and 71 have the same small rectangular backup light. 72's have the large square one.

However, I know a guy who bought a late 71 brand new and he has the 72 style tailight.

Allen nailed it, the bulbs were amber behind those clear lenses! I changed my '71 Nova to clear lenses, just like it better :D

What about the rear tail light lenses, small square for '70 vs. the big square (not Allen :D ) '71+ application? When did the change over occur, is it possible to get a late '70 with the big squares, or an early '71 with the little squares?
M

Marlin,
I believe Allen posted in the past that he has seen some 1971 Novas with the 1970 style tail light lenses. Allen?

Just to add to the fire....

Canadian only 68 and 69 Acadians were built using the small Clear lenses.

More fire............I wonder which or how many states require the "amber bulb"?:D

Now I'm going to have to go see what color bulbs I have in my lights, I believe their 'clear' bulbs with 'clear' lens. Stupid question here, but what's the purpose of having a clear lens with an amber bulb? In other words, I wonder why the switch to a clear lens, yet an AMBER bulb. Now I'm going to lose sleep over this one.

Clear lens with amber bulb would be more of a styling thing than anything else. Painted bulbs are more expensive, hence the switch back to a colored lens and clear bulb.

Thanks for all of your replies, after further checking my amber lenses,
I see they have a 70 date on them so that adds to the confusion.



70 L-78

No confusion. The date on the lens is the date that it was approved for production. That date stays with the lens as long as it is produced. All of the turn signal lamp lenses from 70-72 will have a '70' date - regardless of the color or year.

Don't know why they chose a clear lens but the signal itself would need to be amber in color due to traffic laws stating the turn signals needed to be amber in color hence the amber bulbs.

Yep! You know it. It's a legal thing.



Allen (an engineer working for an automotive/truck/trailer lighting company)

Marlin,
I believe Allen posted in the past that he has seen some 1971 Novas with the 1970 style tail light lenses. Allen?


The tail light lens with the larger back-up lens has a '71' date code on it, but it appears to have been a running change in the 1971 model year. From what I've observed with parts cars and also just checking out Novas at car shows, the early '71 production used the small back-up lens (probably just to use up stock) and the later '71 has the switchover to the larger back-up lens.

More fire............I wonder which or how many states require the "amber bulb"?:D


They require an amber light. It could be from an amber bulb and clear lens.... amber lens and clear bulb..... amber bulb and amber lens (but why?).....

sheeeeze..........Another trip to the garage:o

The amber bulb looks much better ! thanks

.sheeeeze..........Another trip to the garage:o
Hey John, If it is that BIG a problem to go to the garage to look at it, you can park it up in my garage and I'll check those things out for you!!:D :D
There's plenty of room now since the 71 went north.

The amber bulb looks much better ! thanks


And the NA bulbs look much better then the painted amber mentioned before.